It’s a real pain to keep your devices synced. Sure, you can use iCloud to keep your iOS devices and your Mac all synced nicely, but what if you don’t trust “the cloud,” or what about non-Apple devices like a Sony PSP, or an Android phone? Enter SyncMate from developer Eltima Software, an app for your Mac that is designed to keep all of the contacts, calendar events, files, bookmarks, and more on your devices and computers synced.

Upon starting the application for the first time, I was presented with default screen. At first glance, it seemed a bit confusing, but after using it a few times, I got the hang of it.

The first thing you want to do is to add a device you want to sync with. I figured I’d go basic for the first try, and clicked “Another Mac.” I then selected my old MacBook I use as a backup. (I had installed SyncMate on this Mac also. A requirement to sync between the two Macs.) I then entered the IP address of my backup MacBook, and clicked “Continue.”

I was then presented with the screen below, where I selected to sync Contacts, iCal, Safari Bookmarks, and a folder of files from a within my downloads folder to the remote Mac’s download folder. (When selecting the folders to sync, you can select multiple folder pairs, just be sure to add them to the list by clicking the “+” to the right of the combo selection pull-downs in order to add them to the list. I forgot when attempting just one folder combo, and was stymied until I realized I needed to click the “+”.)

Once everything was set to my liking, I simply pressed “Sync Now,” and all files were synced between my two Mac’s.

I also tried checking the “Real-Time” box in my syncing folders list. This enables real-time syncing for the selected folders. Whenever a new file is copied into one of the folder pairs, it should auto sync over to the other folder. It worked like magic. Every time I copied a file into the source folder, it automatically copied over to the destination directory on the other computer. Beautiful, this is going to make working on the couch in front of the TV even easier.

I tried similar operations on a Nexus 7, via both Wi-Fi, and USB, and everything worked like a charm. Syncing with a Windows 7 machine also went without a hitch, as did connecting to Dropbox.

I did not attempt syncing my iPhone 5 or third-generation iPad with my MacBook using SyncMate, as I am running the iOS 7 beta on both devices, and did not feel it was fair to review the process on those devices while running a beta version of iOS.

Verdict

I found SyncMate easy to setup and use. All file sync operations performed without a hitch, and ran smoothly and quickly.

Users considering SyncMate for use with their iOS devices should be aware of some peculiarities when syncing iOS devices with your Mac via SyncMate, be sure to read about them here.

If you have a need for syncing your information between multiple devices, and they are not all Apple devices, SyncMate is an app to take a look at. The developer makes a very limited free version available to try out, so you can see if it meets your needs before plunking down your hard-earned cash.

Rating:4/5[rating:4]

Price: $39.95 (Personal License for Use on 2 Macs, Other Options Available) – Available at the SyncMate website. [DIRECT LINK]

Pros:

Quick and easy to setup.

All file and information syncing is performed quickly and transparently.

Worked well with any device I threw at it.

Cons:

There are some peculiarities when syncing iOS devices with your Mac via SyncMate, be sure to read about them here.

Could be considered expensive for performing a task most could figure out how to do by using various free services and apps. Be sure to check out the list of features before you buy. The convenience factor may outweigh the price factor for you.

*The above review was commissioned by the developer in accordance with our app review policy, and has been written in an objective, unbiased fashion.

Chris

doesn´t work for 10.9. not syncing ical and calender. no response from syncmate about this…

John

Me too. Did you get a reply?

Daniel Branch

Use Airdroid…

AJOTR

Horrible Software. THIS IS A SCAM. Its a BAIT & SWITCH. They lure you in with the “free” version (which NEVER works correctly) and then tell you to pay $40 for a paid version with a few more features that also usually fails. I spent two years going back and forth with the HORRIBLE customer service (DO NOT BELIEVE THE REVIEWS THAT SAY THE CUSTOMER SERVICE IS GREAT – those are shills and false!!) and NEVER solved the endless problems. But that is not the WORST part….

They OFTEN send you a note about an “Update” which you think is a bug-fix, but in fact it ERASES your paid version IRREVERSIBLY and then asks you for MORE MONEY for the latest update!! No going back! THIS IS A SCAM. I wrote repeatedly to the developers and they effectively told me, “Tough – pay us more money or your PREVIOUSLY PAID SOFTWARE will be hamstrung.” ABSOLUTE GARBAGE.